How the Dancing Grinch Stole Christmas: One Night Only Performance!
Come join Coastal Performing Arts Academy for their 9th annual Christmas celebration!
This will be a show the whole family will enjoy.

This beloved annual Christmas show presented by The Coastal Performing Arts Academy will be Dec. 19 at 7pm, Johnny Mercer Theater in Savannah.

Tickets $12
On Sale Now
Call 912-988-1521 or visit Coastal Performing Arts Academy at 107 Grand Central Blvd, Suite 202/203, Pooler, GA

For more information, click here.

See more photos of the performers by clicking here.

Come see a sneak peak of the show at the Savannah Harbor Festival of Lights on Hutchinson Island this Friday Dec. 13 at 7pm!

Coastal Performing Arts Academy, https://www.facebook.com/CoastalGrinch. Coastal Performing Arts Academy is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

Join the national “First Day Hikes” movement and start off 2014 with a healthy hike in Georgia’s State Parks.

More than 40 walks cover history, geology, fitness and even a Black Bear Plunge. Find a ranger-led trek near you at http://www.georgiastateparks.org/firstdayhikes

Some nearby ones on the list include:

First Day Hike at Skidaway Island / 2 PM
Skidaway IslandSkidaway Isalnd State Park – Savannah, GA
Take a guided tour of the marsh through our Sandpiper Trail with a park ranger. Plan for about an hour on this one mile hike, where you will learn about life in a Georgia marsh. Please dress in comfortable clothing. $5 parking. 912-598-2300

First Day Hike at Gordonia-Alatamaha / 8 AM to 4 PM
Gordonia-AlatamahaGordonia-Alatamaha State Park – Reidsville, GA
Start your New Year off right by getting outdoors and taking a guided hike. Our Nature Trail is a 1 mile loop that is moderate in duration. $5 parking. 912-557-7744

And lots of other first-day hikes in Georgia here.

FOR MORE LOCAL HOLIDAY EVENTS, CLICK HERE.

Visit the Scribble Art Studio blog through December 2013 for handmade ornament ideas & templates. Perfect to do with the kids. Click here to read Scribble’s blog.

Scribble Art Studio gift certificates for art lessons and art kits make ideal, creative holiday gifts for kids. Gift certificates are available for group or private lessons, plus parties. Art kits contain a variety of Scribble artists’ favorite art supplies and are a great gift for all ages.

Scribble Art Studio offers children’s art classes & art birthday parties in Savannah & Pooler.

Scribble also now offers at-home Princess Parties! Princes Maggie Lee Hart will bring everything needed for a fun & magical birthday party. Create wearable crafts & learn a royal song & dance. Details here.

Scribble Art Studio, 212 E. 37th St Savannah, 31401, (912) 713-7376 email info@thescribbleartstudio.com , www.TheScribbleArtStudio.com , Scribble Art Studio is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

FOR MORE LOCAL HOLIDAY EVENTS, CLICK HERE.

You’re invited to bring the kids to this free holiday event: The Annual Reading of Truman Capote’s “A Christmas Memory” on December 15 @ Flannery O’Connor Childhood Home, a period house museum devoted to educating the public about O’Connor’s significant contributions to American literature and her childhood in Savannah.

WHAT: Bob Strozier’s Annual Reading of Truman Capote’s “A Christmas Memory.” Retired Armstrong Atlantic State University English professor Bob Strozier will read this holiday classic as part of the Flannery O’Connor Childhood Home’s Gulfstream Fall Lecture Series. This event is free and open to the public.

WHEN: 3 PM Sunday, December 15, 2013

WHERE: Flannery O’Connor Childhood Home, 207 E. Charlton St. Savannah, Georgia

ABOUT THE FLANNERY O’CONNOR CHILDHOOD HOME:
The Flannery O’Connor Childhood Home, located at 207 E. Charlton Street in the heart of Savannah, Georgia, is dedicated to preserving the legacy of one of the South’s greatest writers. An established 501 3(C) nonprofit organization, the Flannery O’Connor Childhood Home has been meticulously restored to reflect the authentic period furnishings of a Depression-Era Savannah rowhouse and to offer insight into the years that O’Connor lived in Savannah, from 1925 to 1938. The Home proudly presents a series of free lectures each spring and fall as well as other events throughout the year. For more information, please visit www.flanneryoconnorhome.org  or call 912.233.6014.

FOR MORE LOCAL HOLIDAY EVENTS, CLICK HERE.

December 2013 Free Family Day is Dec 14 at Telfair Museums. Telfair Museums will host a Free Family Day at the Jepson Center as part of its monthly Free Family Days series.

December’s theme: Holiday Special.  Enjoy hands-on art projects, gallery exploration activities, story time and much more designed specifically for the entire family! The theme for December is a holiday special. Guests will learn about DIY cards, printmaking and wrapping paper how-to’s. Admission is free.
Date: December 14 Time: 1–4 p.m. Location: Jepson Center Website: Telfair.org Phone: 912.790.8800

Family Days are offered one Saturday each month from 1 to 4 p.m., offering free hands-on activities designed to be fun and educational. Kids can create their own masterpieces, play art detective and enjoy activities for all ages.

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013, 1-4 p.m.
WHERE: Jepson Center, 207 W. York St. on Telfair Square, Savannah, Georgia
UPCOMING FREE FAMILY DAYS:
December 14 | Holiday Special DIY cards, printmaking and wrapping paper how-to’s.

ABOUT TELFAIR MUSEUMS

Jepson Center hours: Sunday & Monday 12–5 pm; Tuesday & Wednesday 10 am–5 pm; Thursday 10 am–8 pm; Friday & Saturday 10 am–5 pm
Telfair Academy hours: Sunday 1–5 pm; Monday 12–5 pm; Tuesday–Saturday 10 am–5 pm
Owens-Thomas House hours: Sunday 1–5 pm; Monday 12–5 pm; Tuesday–Saturday 10 am–5 pm (guided tours only – last tour leaves at 4:30 pm)

For more information: 912.790.8802 or visit www.telfair.org .

Jepson Center – 207 W. York Street
Telfair Academy – 121 Barnard Street
Owens-Thomas House – 124 Abercorn Street

Telfair’s Jepson Center for the Arts, 207 W York Street, Savannah,  31401, www.telfair.org Telfair Museums is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Scribble Art Studio gift certificates for art lessons and art kits make ideal, creative holiday gifts for kids. Gift certificates are available for group or private lessons, plus parties. Art kits contain a variety of Scribble artists’ favorite art supplies and are a great gift for all ages.

Scribble Art Studio offers children’s art classes & art birthday parties in Savannah & Pooler.

Scribble also now offers at-home Princess Parties! Princes Maggie Lee Hart will bring everything needed for a fun & magical birthday party. Create wearable crafts & learn a royal song & dance. Details here.

Scribble Art Studio, 212 E. 37th St Savannah, 31401, (912) 713-7376 email info@thescribbleartstudio.com , www.TheScribbleArtStudio.com , Scribble Art Studio is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

Here’s a terrific family entertainment event with an historical flair: the Holiday Evening Tours by Candlelight 2013 program in Savannah during the week between Christmas and New Year’s.

Holiday Evening Tours by Candlelight @ Davenport House Museum, 324 E. State Street, Savannah, 31401
December 26 -30, 2013
TIME: 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Admission: $9 adults in advance, $11 at the door; $6 children in advance, $8 at the door

Program Length: The experience will take approximately 60 minutes. No admissions after 8 p.m.

About the Program: Glistening by candlelight, the Federal-style home welcomes visitors to an experience emphasizing the end-of-year celebrations of early 19th century Savannahians, including the Davenport household, who lived in the fine brick home on Columbia Square. Light refreshments, music and skilled interpreters, who show visitors through the home, are among the highlights of the presentation.

The experience requires that guests be able to walk up and down stairs and maneuver in the candlelit rooms.

Contact information or to make a reservation: 912-236-8097, info@davenporthousemuseum.org , www.davenporthousemuseum.org

Reservations: Encouraged

New or amplified this year:
- Recreating a girl’s accidental discovery of Clement Moore’s brand new poem “A Visit from Saint Nicholas.”
- Dancing demonstration at the end of the evening – four dances – March, Pavane, Quadrille and “The Delightful Dance”

Davenport House Museum, 324 E. State Street, Savannah, 31401, 912-236-8097, info@davenporthousemuseum.org , www.davenporthousemuseum.org

FOR MORE LOCAL HOLIDAY EVENTS, CLICK HERE.

Thanksgiving Field Day 2013 @ Fort Pulaski, Savannah

11/30/2013
10AM to 3:30 PM
Fee: $5 Entrance Fee
Contact Name: Gloria Lee (912) 786-5787 ext 104

Fort Pulaski will commemorate the 151st anniversary of the Grand Thanksgiving Fete and Festival of 1862. The event will recreate the field day offered by the 48th New York Infantry to celebrate their first Thanksgiving in Fort Pulaski.

The original event, held in 1862, gave the Union garrison of Fort Pulaski a respite from the constant vigilance which they maintained throughout their year-long residence on Cockspur Island.  Of the day’s events, one soldier commented, “The day was …a memorable one, contrasting as it did so severely with the events which placed us there and continued to disturb the country.”

Everyone is encouraged to participate in foot races, sack races, and wheelbarrow races.  Amusements of the day will include guided tours of the fort and historic weapons demonstrations.

The event will also be an opportunity to try on clothing of the Civil War era.  All are encouraged to participate in the “burlesque dress parade”.  There will be clothing for men, women, and children, as well as accessories for the proper period look.

Schedule of Events
10:00                           Guided Fort Tour
11:00                           Foot Race (public competition)
11:15                           Sack Race (public competition)
11:45                           Wheelbarrow Race (public competition)
12:30                           Cannon Firing Demonstration
1:00                             Guided Fort Tour
2:00                             Foot Race (public competition)
2:15                             Sack Race (public competition)
2:45 Wheelbarrow Race (public competition)
3:30                             Cannon Firing Demonstration

11:00 – 3:00                Burlesque Dress Parade
Dress in the fort’s Civil War garb.

JUNIOR PARK RANGERS

When you take kids to tour national parks, you never know how much they are getting out of the visit. Especially for those of us moms who aren’t exactly history experts.

Which is why you need to pick up the Junior Ranger booklets at the visitor centers of national parks you visit. The Junior Ranger program kids engage more during the visits.

Junior Ranger booklets have activities about the national parks for ages 5-12. Junior ranger books are free to any visitor and usually are available at the visitors’ centers. Often, similar programs with more advanced activities are also available for older kids. Just ask at the site’s visitor center.

While doing the activities, children enjoy earning a badge and a certificate.

Various national parks that have Junior Ranger programs include:
*Fort Pulaski National Monument, on U.S. 80 en route to Tybee Island. Info on the Fort Pulaski Junior Program here.
*Fort Sumter & Fort Moultrie national monuments, Charleston, S.C. Info on these forts Junior Ranger program here.
*Cumberland Island National Seashore, Ga. More info here.

Fort Pulaski National Monument is located on U.S. Highway 80, 15 miles east of Savannah. Learn more at www.nps.gov/fopu and visit us on Facebook www.facebook.com/FortPulaskiNPS and Twitter www.twitter.com/FortPulaskiNPS.

Bring your budding Mozart to Armstrong Atlantic Youth Orchestra’s Fall Concert conducted by Neil Casey.

Fall Concert with The Atlantic Chamber Orchestra
Lyric Youth Orchestra AND Debut Strings & Lyric Strings Ensembles
@ AASU Fine Arts Auditorium
11935 Abercorn Street at Science Drive
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
6:30 PM

Adults $10.00
All students FREE

Tickets: available at the door

More info on Armstrong Atlantic Youth Orchestra here.

Music Instrument Lessons

Hoping your child falls in love with a musical instrument this year?

For information on musical lessons, check with Beth Bevars, ensemble manager for Armstrong Atlantic Youth Orchestra. She can email you a list of local musical instrument teachers, their specialties, locations, contact info, lesson tips etc. Email Beth at savaayo@yahoo.com .

Beth offers lots of great tips about getting your child started with a musical instrument in my Q&A column with her here.

One tip Beth suggests is exposing your child to live music, which is all the more reason to check out the fall concert, 11/26 mentioned above.

FOR MORE AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES IN THE SAVANNAH AREA, CLICK HERE.

Winter Muster Reenactment @ Fort McAllister, Richmond Hill
Saturday, Dec 14, 2013 9 AM to 4 PM
On December 13, 1864, General Sherman ended his March to the Sea by ordering his troops to take Fort McAllister. Come and watch as rangers reenact this historically significant moment in our country’s history.

Program & demonstration from 9am – 4pm. Battle at 5 PM.

Adults $6.50, Seniors $6.00, Youth (6-17) $3.75, 5 & younger are free. 912.727.2339. More info here.

Fort McAllister Historic Park, 3894 Fort McAllister Road, Richmond Hill , GA 31324

FOR MORE LOCAL KIDS’ EVENTS, VISIT OUR EVENTS CALENDAR BY CLICKING HERE.

SAVANNAH PARENTS! Registration is now open for a new 5 week session of Lego® classes! Lego® Minecraft starts on Thursday 11/21/2013.

Anything that you can dream of is possible in Minecraft ®. Travel to the Nether with Snapology, but watch out for those creepers! Come join this class as they bring Minecraft® to life using Lego® bricks to build Minecraft® characters, animals, worlds and much more!

This 5 week session of classes will meet each Thursday 4:30-5:30pm 11/21, 12/5, 12/12, 12/19, 1/9 at the Lake Mayer Community Center (please note this class will not meet during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays). $75 per student. Register online at http://savannah.snapology.com/Calendar.html

Have Snapology bring the party to you! Snapology’s dedicated party facilitator will bring the Lego® party to you.

More Snapology birthday info here.

Stay connected to Snapology of Savannah by liking them on Facebook here.

Snapology of Savannah, Richmond Hill, “Where Learning is a Snap” 770-883-3024, email Savannah@Snapology.com , http://www.snapology.com/savannahhome.php, Snapology is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

Schedule your child’s FREE placement test at Kumon Math & Reading Center of Savannah: (912) 920-8899

Kumon Math and Reading Center of Savannah, www.kumon.com/savannah , open on Mondays and Thursdays from 3-7 PM,  in Piccadilly Square @ 10010   Abercorn Ave. Suite 5A, Savannah, 31406. For more info or to schedule a complimentary placement test, call owner and instructor, Janese Cooper at (912) 920-8899. Kumon of Savannah is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Have you taken your kids to see an Angela Beasley’s Puppet People show yet? It’s a Savannah tradition. Here’s a chance to do so.

You’re invited to Puppet People’s End of Year Puppet Workshops & Shows at The Puppet Place in Thunderbolt

December 26, 27, 28, 30 & 31 @ 11:00 AM

Bring your children to the Puppet People’s World of Let’s Pretend! Your children will have a wonderful time learning how to make their own puppet which will be followed by a wonderful and entertaining Puppet Show.

Children $10 Adults $5

Book your seat since space is limited. Organizers are expecting a huge response from this amazing event. More details here.

Contact 912.355.3366,  email puppets@puppetpeople.com or visit www.PuppetPeople.com

Puppet People, 912.355.3366, www.PuppetPeople.com, email puppets@puppetpeople.com,  3119 Furber Ave. , Thunderbolt, 31404  Puppet People is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

FOR MORE LOCAL HOLIDAY EVENTS, CLICK HERE.

Did your kids get to see one of the energetic & educational Roger Day concerts in Savannah last week?

If so, chances are they are still singing about Mosquito Burritos & Vulture Vomit. We love Roger Day’s music and wanted to find out more about the man in the mud. Check out our Q&A with the popular children’s musician  by clicking here.

Roger Day’s Savannah Music Festival co-commissioned DVD & CD Marsh Mud Madness is an amazing a learning tool for local schoolchildren. This project involves fun and interactive songs about the ecology of the Georgia coast. During this residency, Roger Day’s performances are provided free of charge to school systems in Effingham and Jasper counties, and for Chatham county students in four performances at the Trustees Theater, reaching approximately 7,000 students. Marsh Mud Madness is also the subject of new DVD, produced by SMF and available in the “shop” section at www.savannahmusicfestival.org . SMF’s Music for Our Schools program is sponsored by Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.

Roger Day’s Marsh Mud Madness is now available on CD, too. This audio edition of Marsh Mud Madness is available via Bigkids.com, CDBaby.com and Rogerday.com for $15 CD, $9 digital.

The 14 tracks include songs from Day’s live concerts at the 2011 Savannah Music Festival, plus two newly crafted studio versions of “Vulture Vomit” and “Turtle Girl.” Marsh Mud Madness was created after Day spent five days exploring nearby Sapelo Island & learning about the island’s fragile ecosystem from scientists at the University of Georgia Marine Institute. Day also created a Marsh Mud Madness curriculum available now for free for any teacher or parent at http://georgiaseagrant.uga.edu/article/RogerDay/

Attention Homeschool Parents! Snapology of Richmond Hill/Savannah has  just opened registration for their next session of Snapology classes for homeschoolers.

Lego® Engineering for Homeschoolers in POOLER – 5 week session of classes!

Come build super-cool models with Lego® Technic bricks that use gears, axles and pulleys to build simple machines! Work in teams under guided instruction to build a different simple machine model each week.

Some models the class will build include catapults, windmills, cranes and conveyor belts plus more!

This class is designed for children of all ages and abilities. Older elementary age or middle school children will build together and will be given extensions to build.

Please note that this 5 week class will break for Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Cost: $65 per student. November 21-Jan 9 10:30-11:30 at Tom Tripplet Park Community Center conveniently located between Savannah and Pooler off of Highway 80.

Register online at http://savannah.snapology.com/Calendar.html .

Have Snapology bring the party to you! Snapology’s dedicated party facilitator will bring the Lego® party to you.

More Snapology birthday info here.

Stay connected to Snapology of Savannah by liking them on Facebook here.

Snapology of Savannah, Richmond Hill, “Where Learning is a Snap” 770-883-3024, email Savannah@Snapology.com , http://www.snapology.com/savannahhome.php, Snapology is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

One of our favorite local kids’ events, the annual Savannah Children’s Book Festival happens Saturday Nov. 16, 2013, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Forsyth Park in Savannah.

The festival is presented by Live Oak Public Libraries and the City of Savannah. The ninth annual festival celebrates the joy of reading, the power of the written word and the magic of storytelling with children’s book authors and illustrators from around the country. The festival will also include more than 60 Coastal Authors, arts and crafts, an International Tent, a variety of food and entertainment, a Book Walk and graphic novel/comics area.

This year’s featured authors and illustrators are:
Robin Bridges
Marc Brown
Peter Brown
Nick Bruel
Nina Crews
John R. Erickson
Denise Fleming
Tad Hills
Brian Lies
Jim McMullen
Rachel Renee Russell
Don Tate

Download the lexile level information for the books by the above featured authors and illustrators.

Rain location for the event is the Savannah Civic Center. For more information, call 912-652-3689. For updates, visit the library’s Facebook page by clicking here.

FREE Storybook Art with Scribble Art Studio

Southwest Chatham Library, 925-8305 Thursday, Nov. 7, 4:30 p.m.

Professional artists from Scribble Art Studio will lead this hands-on art program. The session will feature the book, “Duck & Goose, Goose Needs a Hug” by Tad Hills, one of the children’s book authors coming to the Savannah Children’s Book Festival, 11/16, in Forsyth Park.

Southwest Chatham Library, 14097 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA 31419 (behind Target at Savannah Mall)

Free fee weekend Nov. 9-11 2013 @ Fort Pulaski National Monument

To commemorate Veterans Day, the National Park Service will waive all entrance fees throughout Veterans Day weekend. Savannah’s national park – Fort Pulaski National Monument – will be fee free from Saturday, November 9 to Monday, November 11, 2013.

Fort Pulaski National Monument will honor our nation’s veterans with a full schedule of special activities in the historic fort. The 48th New York Infantry Regiment will recreate many aspects of daily life at a major Civil War-era post. A variety of programs will be offered throughout the weekend allowing visitors to learn about military inspections, mail calls, bayonet drills, barracks life, and infantry drills. A special military salute to veterans will be offered at 4:00 PM on Saturday, November 9.

The 48th New York Infantry was stationed at Fort Pulaski from June 1862 through June 1863. During their year-long stay, the unit remained vigilant, always prepared for a Confederate counter attack, an attack that never materialized. Their stay was documented in a series of early photographs that are displayed in exhibits throughout the park.

“The everyday life of the Civil War soldier has always been fascinating to the American public,” commented Superintendent Melissa Memory. “This weekend, we’ll bring that subject to life as a salute to the veterans of all conflicts who have served our country.”

The schedule for the weekend of Veterans Day is as follows:

Saturday, November 9, 2013
10:00            Company Drill
11:00            Cannon Demonstration
12:00            Guided Fort Tour
1:00              Special Program – The 48th New York Volunteers at Fort Pulaski
1:30              Quartermaster and Mail Call
2:00              Cannon Demonstration
3:00              Bayonet Drill & Musket Demonstration
4:00              Salute to Veteran’s Day

Sunday, November 10, 2013
9:00              Barracks Cleaning
10:00            Barracks Inspection
11:00            Guided Fort Tour
12:00            Baseball Game
1:00              Special Program – The 48th New York Volunteers at Fort Pulaski.
2:00              March out of Fort
3:00              Guided Fort Tour

Monday, November 11, 2013
10:30            Guided Fort Tour
12:00            Musket Demonstration
1:00              Ranger’s Choice (Subject of program varies)
2:00              Musket Demonstration
3:30              Guided Fort Tour

Fort Pulaski National Monument is located on U.S. Highway 80, 15 miles east of Savannah. Learn more at www.nps.gov/fopu and visit us on Facebook www.facebook.com/FortPulaskiNPS and Twitter www.twitter.com/FortPulaskiNPS.

Call the park at (912) 786-5787 for details or visit the park’s official website at nps.gov/fopu.

More information on free entrance days in the National Parks can be found at www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm  .

JUNIOR PARK RANGERS

When you take kids to tour national parks, you never know how much they are getting out of the visit. Especially for those of us moms who aren’t exactly history experts.

Which is why you need to pick up the Junior Ranger booklets at the visitor centers of national parks you visit. The Junior Ranger program kids engage more during the visits.

Junior Ranger booklets have activities about the national parks for ages 5-12. Junior ranger books are free to any visitor and usually are available at the visitors’ centers. Often, similar programs with more advanced activities are also available for older kids. Just ask at the site’s visitor center.

While doing the activities, children enjoy earning a badge and a certificate.

Various national parks that have Junior Ranger programs include:
*Fort Pulaski National Monument, on U.S. 80 en route to Tybee Island. Info on the Fort Pulaski Junior Program here.
*Fort Sumter & Fort Moultrie national monuments, Charleston, S.C. Info on these forts Junior Ranger program here.
*Cumberland Island National Seashore, Ga. More info here.

Come out to Skidaway Island State Park to enjoy FREE kids’ nature activities most Wednesdays-Sundays during November .  To see the complete list of FREE kids’ nature activities @ Skidaway Is. State Park during November 2013, click here.

This months highlights include:

* Toddler Time at 10 AM on Thursdays : Stories, games, and learning designed for 2-4 year olds. This upcoming week’s theme is birds . See upcoming themes here..

* SMORES & STORIES AROUND THE CAMPFIRE: 6 PM FRI. Nov. 8 Campfire:  Meet and greet fellow park visitors for Smores and stories around the campfire. Meet at Amphitheatre across from Picnic Shelter 4.

* Owl Programs at 2 PM Wed. Nov. 6 & 6 PM Sat. Nov. 23.

To see the complete list of FREE kids’ nature activities @ Skidaway Is. State Park during November 2013, click here.

FOR MORE LOCAL KIDS’ EVENTS, VISIT OUR ONLINE EVENTS CALENDAR BY CLICKING HERE

Telfair Museums in Savannah has some big FREE kids events happening this month including:

The 19th Annual Telfair Art Fair will be held November 16 and 17 in the heart of historic downtown Savannah.
A popular family-friendly aspect of the annual Telfair Art Fair is the FREE Children’s Art fair, a free event taking place Saturday, November 16 from 10 am to 5 pm in the square at 207 W. York St.
FREE Children’s Art Fair
Saturday, November 16
Enjoy art activities for children in the square and in the studio 10 am – 5pm.
Bring your children to create, design, learn and have fun! Activities are centered around Telfair Museums’ featured exhibition, Spanish Sojourns. Different activities will be available during the day including Travel Sketch Books, Flamenco Dance Instruction, Flamenco Flower Design, Robert Henri Replication Station, and Spanish
Mosaic Tiles. *Free and open to the public sponsored by Blick Art Materials.
.
FREE WEEK @ THE JEPSON CENTER
NOV. 18-24 / JEPSON CENTER
Experience great activities and exhibitions including Spanish Sojourns: Robert Henri and the Spirit of Spain and Warhol/JFK: November 22, 1963.
*Free and open to the public

FREE FAMILY DAY
SATURDAY, NOV. 23, 1-4 PM
3 PM DANCE PERFORMANCE JEPSON CENTER
Activities include bilingual audio-tours, hands-on activities and a 3 pm dance performance by Aire Flamenco. Join us to paint portraits, create flowers, fans and castanets and experience Spanish story time and gallery activities.
*Programs are free and open to the public sponsored
by the City of Savannah Department of Cultural Affairs. Additional funding provided by Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Georgia Power Foundation, Inc., and the AGL Resources Foundation.

More info here.

Telfair Museum’s Jepson Center, 207 W York St, Savannah GA 31401 More info here. Telfair Museums are a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Here are our favorite picks for nearby spots outside of Savannah that are well worth the trip:

(To find out kid-friendly activities, visit our Events Calendar here)

1. Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Jekyll Is., Ga (closed Mondays ). Hours, admission rates, directions and more details here.

2. South Carolina Aquarium, Charleston Harbor , S.C. . Hours, daily events, admission rates & specials here.  .

3. Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry, Charleston, S.C. Hours, exhibits, admission rates & more details here.

4. Fort Sumter & Fort Moultrie national monuments, Charleston, S.C. Info on these forts Junior Ranger program here.

5. Museum of Science & History (MOSH) & The Bryan-Gooding Planetarium, Jacksonville, Fla.. Hours, daily Planetarium shows, upcoming special events, admission specials & more details here. 

6. Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Jacksonville, Fla.. Hours, January discounts, admission rates & more details here.

7. Lawton Stables, Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head. Is. S.C. (open everyday except Christmas) Lawton’s free animal farm includes goats, sheep, pot-bellied pigs, ponies, rabbits, a deer named Callie and a Clydesdale named Harley (who loves visitors bearing carrots and apples). Pony rides and horseback riding available for a fee. Details here. Pair your visit to Lawton with a visit to The Sandbox Interactive Children’s Museum

8. The Sandbox Interactive Children’s Museum, Hilton Head Is., S.C..  Details here.

9. Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, Columbia, S.C. Hours & admission rates here.  .

10. EdVenture Children’s Museum, Columbia, S.C. Hours & admission rates here.

11. The Kazoo Factory museum tours, Beaufort, S.C. Hours & admission rates here. Pair your visit with a trip to the lighthouse at Hunting Island State Park. Details here.

12. Cumberland Island National Seashore, Ga. More info here.

13. Wildlife Programs @ The Center for Wildlife Education & the Lamar Q. Ball Raptor Center at Georgia Southern University Campus, Statesboro. Details here.

You waited all of October for this: Ottawa Farms in Bloomingdale is now open weekends through November & so is their 10-acre corn maze! Let the CORNfusion begin.

This popular fall outing is an easy drive from Savannah, located at  702 Bloomingdale Rd, Bloomingdale, Ga 31302.

Owners of the farm & staff have been busy getting the farm ready. So we haven’t been able to confirm these hours, admission & activities that we puled from recent posts on the Ottawa Farms Facebook page. So please call to confirm the farm is open before making the trip.  (912) 748-3035

10-acre Corn maze hours
Sat: 1-10 PM (Last ticket sold at 9:30 PM)
Sun: 1-6 PM
Open every weekend (weather permitting) through November

Admission

ADMISSION $8.00 AGE 5 & UP, 4 AND UNDER FREE.

Farm Activities

Hayrides, corn maze, cow train rides, pig races, inflatables, Big Mo Super Slide, duck races, inflatables, bonfires, corn crib, the corn cannon (3 shots for $1) and more.

Items for sale in the Ottawa Farms General Store include:
PUMPKINS, INDIAN CORN, DECORATIVE GOURDS, BLUE LAKE GREEN BEANS, BUTTERNUT SQUASH, EGGPLANT, ZUCCHINI, OKRA, HONEY CRISP APPLES, CABBAGE, SWEET POTATOES AND TOMATOES. OTTAWA FARMS HONEY & THEIR OWN BLACK ANGUS BEEF & COUNTRY HAM

Ottawa Farms, 702 Bloomingdale Rd, Bloomingdale, Georgia 31302, (912) 748-3035, email rwd748@gmail.com , http://www.ottawafarms.com  On Facebook here.  Ottawa Farms is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

We can’t wait to attend the Savannah Country Day School production of ”The Phantom Tollbooth, Jr.”.

If your kids are smitten with the beloved children’s book by Norton Juster, then make plans to take them to this musical so they can see Milo save save the princesses Rhyme and  Reason and reunite the brother Kings Azaz and the Mathemagician, with the help of Milo’s dog, Tock. It’s sure to be an unforgettable trip.

“The Phantom Tollbooth, Jr.”

November 7th,8th and 9th
7pm
$8 Kids, $12 Adults
Jelks Auditorium
Savannah Country Day School

Savannah Country Day School, 824 Stillwood Drive, Savannah,  31419-2643, 912.925.8800, www.savcds.org

You are invited to take part in Savannah Harbor Foundation’s 13th annual Gingerbread Village Competition at The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa.

Each year thousands of visitors make the pilgrimage to the Westin to delight in these culinary creations! The competition includes adult (18 & over) and student (17 & under) divisions, and is open for anyone to participate. Come view this spectacular display in the Westin lobby Saturday, November 23 through December 30, 2013. Free and open to the public. (Please schedule large group visits in advance.)

For more information, please contact 912.201.2244 or gingerbreadvillage@Westin.com

Make the trip to see the Gingerbread village even more special by catching the free ferry from River Street to the Westin. Details here.

FOR MORE LOCAL HOLIDAY EVENTS, CLICK HERE.

Your favorite kids’ art studio in Savannah & Pooler – Scribble Art Studio – now has their Winter kids’ art classes schedule for registration. Classes available for all ages & experience levels.

Just a sample of classes offered in Savannah:
Cartoon Bonanza
Futuristic Worlds & Fantasy Monsters
Fashion Sketching
Homeschool Art

In Pooler:
Cartoons & Superheroes
Sewing Circus

And more! To see Scribble’s full winter class schedule, click here.

For details, call 912.713.7376 or visit www.thescribbleartstudio.com

Scribble also now offers at-home Princess Parties! Princes Maggie Lee Hart will bring everything needed for a fun & magical birthday party. Create wearable crafts & learn a royal song & dance. Details here.

Scribble Art Studio, 212 E. 37th St Savannah, 31401, (912) 713-7376 email info@thescribbleartstudio.com , www.TheScribbleArtStudio.com , Scribble Art Studio is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

Public Archeology Walking Tours offered by Digging Savannah this Fall include:

There are 3 Special Costume Storytimes scheduled next week @ the following Live Oak Public Library branches:

Special Costume Storytimes   

Tybee Island Library,786-7733 Tuesday, Oct. 29, 11 a.m. Children ages 0 to 5 are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes to this storytime.

Thunderbolt Library, 354-5864 Tuesday, Oct. 29, 11 a.m. Children ages 0 to 5 are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes to this storytime.

Pooler Library, 748-0471 Wednesday, Oct. 30, 10:30 a.m. Children ages 0 to 5 are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes to this storytime.

FOR MORE LOCAL HALLOWEEN KIDS’ EVENTS, CLICK HERE.

This sounds like something not to be missed for those of us with beginning readers: a free presentation on “What every early childhood parent should know about how to encourage early literacy”.

When: Fri. Nov. 1, 9:15 AM Coffee with Meet and Greet; 10 AM Presentation.

Where: St. Andrew’s School, 601 Penn Waller Road, Savannah (Wilmington Island) 31410

About the presenter:

Tricia Yates is a prekindergarten teacher and literacy leaders at St. Andrew’s School. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary and early childhood education, a master’s degree in reading and has 18 years of experience as a Title 1 Reading Coordinator working with early childhood through 12th grade students.

This informative session will focus on an overview of literacy development in early childhood, including resources and strategies to give your child the building blocks to develop strong reading skills and a love for literacy.

RSVP to Christine Sapp, email sappc@saintschool.com or call 912.897.4941 ext 400.

St. Andrew’s, a Pre-K through Grade 12 independent school, is located on Wilmington Island. For more information on the Savannah private International Baccalaureate World School visit www.saintschool.com

St. Andrew’s School, 601 Penn Waller Road, Savannah, 31410, www.saintschool.com St. Andrew’s School is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

You’re invited: FREE Skldaway Marine Science Day, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 from 11am-3pm. FREE to the public.

This will be a day of marine science programs, displays, tours and activities on the campus of the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography at the north end of Skidaway Island.

The Skidaway Marine Science Day is a campus-wide open house with activities geared for all ages from young children to adults. These will include programs, tours, displays and hands-on activities, primarily related to marine science. The University of Georgia Aquarium will be open free-of-charge with special displays and activities.

Skidaway Institute of Oceanography’s ocean-going research vessel, the R/V Savannah will also be open for tours. The event is open to the public and admission is free. The event will be presented by the campus’s marine research and education organizations, including the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, the University of Georgia (UGA) Marine Education Center and Aquarium, the UGA Shellfish Research Laboratory and Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary. All activities at Skidaway Marine Science Day will be free.

For additional information, call (912) 598-2325, or visit www.skio.usg.edu

FOR MORE FALL FESTIVALS IN THE SAVANNAH AREA, CLICK HERE.